שמואל ב, פרק י״ט, פסוק כ״ה

The physical appearance of a person can sometimes speak louder than any spoken defense. When King David returns from exile, Mephibosheth presents himself in a state of severe physical neglect. This unkempt appearance serves as a silent but powerful testimony to his loyalty and deep sorrow over the king's forced departure, effectively disproving the false accusations that had been leveled against him. Although Mephibosheth was actually Saul's grandson, the historical account refers to him as Saul's son, since it is common in biblical records for a grandson to be called a son [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This title highlights his high royal lineage. Alternatively, it carries a sad undertone, hinting that David ultimately treated Mephibosheth with the suspicion reserved for the son of his enemy, Saul, rather than with the love owed to the son of his dear friend, Jonathan [אברבנאל].

In truth, Mephibosheth remained deeply loyal and grateful for the kindness David had shown him in the past, such as restoring his family's property and inviting him to eat at the royal table. Because of this gratitude, he sincerely mourned when the king fled [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. This genuine state of mourning clearly exposed the lie told by his servant Ziba, who had falsely claimed that Mephibosheth stayed behind in Jerusalem because he was indifferent to David's troubles [מלבי״ם].

The depth of his grief was evident in his complete lack of personal grooming. He did not tend to his body at all [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Commentators offer various perspectives on the specific extent of this neglect. Some explain that he did not even wash the soles of his feet, let alone the rest of his body [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Others suggest he refrained from trimming his toenails [רלב״ג] or removing his body hair [רש״י]. Furthermore, he left his facial hair completely untended, neither grooming his mustache [רד״ק, מצודת ציון] nor shaving his beard [רלב״ג, אברבנאל].

One might wonder why Mephibosheth would choose to appear before the king in such a dirty and neglected state, rather than washing and dressing up to honor the joyous occasion of David's safe return. The reason is that Mephibosheth needed to prove that his sorrow began the very day David left and lasted continuously until the moment he came back. Had he washed and groomed himself for the meeting, the physical evidence of his long and continuous mourning would have been washed away. By choosing to remain in his neglected state, he provided undeniable, visible proof of his enduring grief and unbroken loyalty [חומת אנך].